Streamlining the billing process of a micro-studio leasing company through the development of an automated tenants’ subsidiary ledger

• Main Author: Bernardo, Benigno Jose
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2023
• Subjects: Collecting of accounts; Business Administration, Management, and Operations
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etdm_manorg/197; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/etdm_manorg/article/1202/viewcontent/Streamlining_the_billing_process_of_a_micro_studio_leasing_compan_combined.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

This insider action research (IAR) streamlined the billing process of Point Blue, a micro-studio leasing company, through an internally developed software system of the tenants’ subsidiary ledger that automated statements of account generation and distribution. Accounts receivable refer to the outstanding money yet to be paid by a company’s customers. Managing accounts receivable efficiently can benefit the business in several ways—such as but not limited to improved cash flows and better customer relationships. As a real estate leasing company, Point Blue needed to find an efficient way to bill its tenants (customers) for its legitimate collectibles. As such, the collaborative nature of action research was used to develop a system that bridged the needs of internal (the employees) and external (clients) stakeholders for the improvement of the organization’s credit and collection processes. The action researcher and his collaborators utilized various inquiry tools (first-person and second-person) such as Realistic ORJI, Ladder of Inference, Argyris’ Left-Hand Column, Torbert’s Four Parts of Speech, Hypothesis Testing, Forcefield Analysis, and Systems Thinking to unveil the root causes of the billing process inefficiencies. Furthermore, complementing frameworks such as (1) Agile Software Development and (2) Point Blue’s ST.U.D.I.O. process framework was utilized to produce the desired automation system within a short period. In Cycle 1, the action researcher and his collaborators were able to complete the identified missing links. Following this success, Cycle 2 paved the way for the organization’s new automated tenant billing system. In both cycles, agile methodologies and strong collaborative efforts were deemed essential. Note that agile methodologies can still be tweaked and applied to other process improvement initiatives, even without the need to implement automation. In a broader context, strong cross-functional team collaborations can be vital in spurring growth, innovation, and endless learning in the organization. Deriving from these precepts, the Agile Collaboration Framework could be helpful toward success in the workplace. Keywords: Action Research, Collaboration, Agile, Systems Improvement, Process Improvement, Software Development, Automation, Billing, Accounts Receivable, Microstudio